Keystone College will host the 2007 Northeast Pennsylvania Forest Landowner Conference on March 17 in Wilkes-Barre.

The Conference will focus on enhancing wildlife habitat and include topics such as establishing wildlife food plots, managing forest wetlands and riparian areas for waterfowl, aquatic stream habitats, grassland habitats, early successional forest habitat; finding resources and tools to enhance habitat on private lands; controlled hunting programs; and a discussion of liability associated with hunter access to private forest lands facilitated by an attorney from the Game Commission.

While public forestland abounds in north-central Pennsylvania, most of the forestland throughout the State is privately owned (69 percent). In recent surveys, forest owners cited a wide range of reasons for owning land, including income and investment potential, recreation, peace and solitude, and providing wildlife habitat. The management of these private forests has important economic and ecological implications.

The conference was developed through a partnership of DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State School of Forest Resources, Keystone College, and the North Branch Land Trust.

The conference is scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Keystone College in LaPlume, Pennsylvania. The conference fee is $25 for participants and includes lunch, breaks and written materials. Pre-registration for this conference is required.

For more information, download the Conference brochure or contact Penn State Cooperative Extension at 570-825-1701 or your local DCNR Bureau of Forestry office.

2/16/2007